Telephone call transmitter



17, 1946. R. F. MALLINA 2,412,625

' TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Jan. 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l VINVE'NTOR R. E MALL/NA A TTORNEV Dec. 17, 1946. MALUNA 2,412,625

TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Jan. 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG? //v l/ENTO R R EMALL/NA Dec. 17, 1946.

R. F. MALLINA TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Jan. 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 K m0 K5 K9 K4 /r3 K12 fiiu FIG. 4 52 lNl ENTOR R. l-. MALL INA Patented Dec. 17, 1946 TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Rudolph F. Mallina, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y.,

assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 18, 1945, Serial No. 573,422

4 Claims.

This invention relates to key-operated call transmitter devices of the type used in telephone systems for controlling the operation of automatic selector and connector switches for establishing talking connections.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a telephone call transmitter device of the type above referred to which will be simple in construction, convenient in use and positive in operation.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a set of pivoted key members for individually actuating means in the form of a U-shaped bar and a gear sector carried by the bar for rotating a pinion and thereby elements of a ratchet mechanism relative to a ratchet wheel for rotating the latter upon the return of the bar and the gear sector to normal position for actuating a pulsing mechamsm.

Another feature is the provision of means in the form of a cylinder or drum movable with the elements of the ratchet mechanism and engaged by means carried by the keys for determining the angular movement of the ratchet elements relative to the ratchet wheel for actuating the pulsing mechanism according to the digit of the key depressed as effected during the return of the bar and the gear sector to normal position by a motor spring tensioned during the operation of the U-bar by the operated key member, the depressed key returning to normal by the tension of its own retractile spring prior to the return of the bar which is itself under control of a governor mechanism.

Another feature is the provision of means carried by the keys engageable with means operable upon the movement of the U-shaped bar by any one of the keys for locking the non-operated keys in that position during the operation of the pulsing mechanism, the pawl carried by the operated key permitting the return of this key to normal without interference from the pawl bar prior to the operation of the latter for releasing the nonoperated keys by the return movement of the U- shaped bar to normal position.

Other novel features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view shown in perspective with the keys in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation view shown with the casing housing the transmitter mechanism partly in vertical longitudinal section and with a number of operating parts with portions broken away.

Fig. 3 is a top view shown with the casing removed from the base, a number of operating parts being shown with portions broken away.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation view shown with a number of operating parts with portions broken away and with the casing removed, the keys being shown in normal position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing one of the keys and a number of operating parts controlled thereby in the operated position; and

Fig. 6 is a partial front view with the casing removed showing the means used for holding the keys in spaced relation to each other on their supporting shaft, the base being shown in vertical section.

Referring to the drawings ii) is a base which in cooperation with a casing C forms a housing for the transmitter mechanism. On the base IE is secured as by a number of similar screws l2 a mounting plate H provided for securing as by a plurality of screws l5 an upright support I3 and a spacer member I6, the latter as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 supporting one end of a bracket M which is secured to the spacer member by a screw MY, while the other end of bracket [4 is secured to a stud ll laterally extending from a bracket 18 secured to the mounting plate II by a pair of screws 19, the bracket IS in cooperation with an upright support 25 serving for rotatably mounting a shaft 31 to which is keyed a cylinder or drum 2| provided for a purpose which will be hereinafter described in detail.

Upright support l3 and bracket 54 as best seen in Fig. 3 serve to support the ends of a shaft 22 provided for pivotally mounting a set of key members Kl, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K1, K8, K9 and KID, held in spaced relation to each other by a notched bar 23, itself supported at both ends in bearing portions 24 formed with the arms 26 and 25Y of a U-shaped bar 25 extending transverse of the key members Kl, K2, K3, etc., with its arms 26 and 26Y pivoted on shaft 22, the U-shaped bar 25 being held against movement longitudinally of shaft 22 through lug portions 21 formed with its arms 26 and 26Y extending downwardly for free movement in notches 28 formed in the upturned portion 29 of mounting plate I0 as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6.

The key members Kl, K2, K3, etc., are held in normal position by individual retractile springs 3% while the U-shaped bar 25 is held in normal position as hown in Fig. 2 by the normal tension of a motor spring 3| having one of its ends hooked to lug 21 formed with arm 26 of this bar and the other end of this spring is hooked to a lug 32 laterally extending from an upright extending portion 33 formed with mounting plate H, the motor Sp ng 3i being tensioned by the pivotal movement of the Ueshaped bar upon the operation of any one of the key members KI, K2, K3, etc, for actuating a pulsing mechanism which will be hereinafter described in detail.

To the arm 26Y of U-shaped bar'25 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is secured as by rivets 3d a gear sector 35 meshing with a pinion 36 keyed on the shaft 3? for rotating the drum 2! keyed thereon and a disc 38 which is secured to the hub of pinion 36 for moving spring-pressed pawls 39 ineffectively on the teeth of a ratchet wheel 40' mounted for free rotation on the shaft 33. The angular movement of disc 38 is determined by the spaced relation of ratchet teeth 5!, 42, 43, 44, i5, 16, ll, t8, t2 and 5! best seen in Fig. 4 formed with the key members Ki, K2, K3, K4, K5, K5, K7, K8, K5} and Kie to the periphery of drum 2! where the ratchet teeth 61, 43, 'etc., engage with corresponding notches disposed at different angular distances at the periphery of the drum, while the movement of the keys is controlled by respective stops S4, S2, S3, St, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9 and S18 formed in an opening OP best seen in Fi 5 in an uprightportion 33 of mounting plate ii, the opening being limited at the top end of the upright portion 33 by a bar El against which the key members Kl, K2, K3, etc., are held in normal position by the tension of their respective retractile springs 30.

The upright 33 is provided with two bearing portions 52 best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and serving for ,pivotally supportin a pawl bar 53 having an arm 5Q bearing against the upper disposed edge of Ll-shaped bar-25 by the tension of its retractile spring 55 while a lug 56 formed at the top end of the bracket l8 serves a normal position stop for the U-shaped bar 25, the pawl bar 53 being normally pivoted against the tension of its retractile spring 55 to the position shown in Fig. 2 out of engageable relation from spring pressed pawls 51 carried by the keys Kl, K2, K3, etc., for permitting the operation of anyone of the keys and that of the U-shapedbar 25 such movement causing the movement of pawl bar '53 under the action of its retractile spring 55 from the posirion shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig, 5 for locking the non-operated keys to that position.

The operation of U-shaped bar 25 and that of thegcar section 35 carried thereby is effective to rotate the pinion 31E, the shaft 31, the drum 2! andthe disc 33 for moving the pawls 39 as abovedescribed inefiectively 0n the teeth of ratchet wheel 148 having a number of teeth corresponding to thenotches at the periphery of drum 2 i. The

return movement of U-shaped bar25 to normal position as effected by the tension of motor spring 35 following the release of the depressed key by the operator, the pawl 35 engages the ratchet wheel 48 for rotating this wheel and a gear wheel '61] formed as a unit with the ratchet wheel. Rotation of gear 60 is imparted 'to a pinion BI and a gear wheel 62 mounted on a shaft EZY journaled at both ends in brackets I i and It. The gear 62 engages a pinion .63 for rotating a speed governor CG and a pulsing cam 64 provided for openingacontact 65 between springs 65 and 6'! secured as by a number of screws 68 in a pile-up arrangement 'on the mounting plate 1 I.

mechanism as for transmitting a series of pulses by the operation of key K8, for example, the operation of this key from the position shown in Fig.2 to the position shown in Fig. 5 is effective to impart an angular movement to the U-shaped bar 25 andto ,the'gear sector 35 carried thereby for rotating the drum 2| nine tenths of a turn to a point wherein the key K9 engages its stop S2 in the upright portion 33 of mounting plate 59 which occur simultaneously with the engagement of ratchet tooth 48 formed with this key with the notch 491 at the periphery of drum 2| for arresting the rotation of the drum and that of disc 33 when the spring-pressed pawls 39 carried thereby automatically engage the ratchet r wheel 43.

The movement of 'U-shaped bar 25 as effected by the operation of key K9 above-mentioned permits the pivotal movement of pawl bar 53 under the tension of its retractile spring 55 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in 5 in the path of the spring pres d pawl El for locking the non-operated keys in that position while the pivotal movement of the spring pressed pawl respective to the operated key perthe immediate return'of this key to normal when this pawl engages the pawl bar 53 prior to the return of the U-shaped bar 25 and the gear sector 35 carried thereby now actuating the gear 5Q, pinion and gear unit 6l62, the pinion 63 and pulsing cam 54 under control of centrifugal speed governor CG. The return movement of U-shaped bar 25 from operated position shown in Fig. 5 to normal position shown in Fig. 2 is effective to rotate the pulsing cam 64 nine turns thus causing nine interruptions of contact 65 for transmitting nine pulses, that is the digit represented by key K9 the U-shaped bar engaging the arm 54 of the pawl bar 53 for pivotin the latter to the position shown in Fig. 2 thus releasing all the keys to prepare the transmitter mechanism for the operation of a succeeding key which is effected in a manner similar to that of the operation of K9 in the example above-mentioned.

What is claimed is:

1. In a call transmitter, a set of digit key members, a pivoted bar actuated by the operation of any one of key members, a gear sector carried by said bar, shalt disposed transverse of said key members, a pinion keyed on said shaft engaged by said sectors for rotating said shaft upon the operation of said bar, a drum member keyed on said shaft, means carried by each 01' said key members engaging means disposed in spaced relation at the periphery of drum member for limiting the movement thereof to an angular distance correspondin to the digit of the operated key member, a motor spring tensioned by the operation of said bar for turning the latter to normal, a pulsing mechanism, and a ratchet mechanism operable upon the return of said bar to normal position for actuating said pulsing mechanism.

2. In a call transmitter, a set of digit key members, a U-shaped bar actuated by the operation and a pinion keyed on said shaft, a gear sector carried by said U-shaped bar engaging said pinion for rotating said shaft, a disc member keyed on said shaft, a ratchet Wheel mounted for free rotation on said shaft, spring pressed pawls carried by said member engaging said ratchet wheel for rotating the latter upon the return operation oi said bar and said gear sector to normal position, means carried by each of said key members engaging means carried by said drum for controlling the movement thereof, and a pulsing mechanism actuated by the movement of said ratchet wheel.

3. In a call transmitter, a set of digit key membars, a pivoted U-shaped bar disposed for opertion by the individual movement of said key members, a rotatable shaft disposed transverse of said key members, a pinion keyed on said shaft, a gear sector carried by said bar engaging said pinion for rotating said shaft upon the operation of said bar by any one of said key members, a drum member carried by said shaft, a plate having stop means for defining the movement of said key members, means carried by each of said key members engaging means carried by said drum for limiting the movement of the latter to angular distances corresponding to the digits represented by said key members, a disc member keyed on said shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted for free rotation on said shaft, a gear movable as a unit with said ratchet wheel, spring pressed pawl elements mounted on said discs and engaging said ratchet Wheel for rotating the latter upon the reverse movement of said U-shaped bar to normal position, and a pulsing mechanism actuated by the gear movable with said'ratchet wheel during the return movement of said bar for transmitting pulses according to the movement of said drum and of the operated key member.

4. In a call transmitter, a set of pivoted key members, a U-shaped bar having a gear sector actuated by the movement of any one of said key members, a mounting plate having an upright extending portion, means in said upright portion for limiting the movement of each of said key members from normal to operated position, a spring pressed pawl carried by each of said members, a pawl bar pivoted on said upright portion and extending transverse of said key members for movement in the path of said spring pressed pawls following the movement of said U-shaped bar by the operated key member for preventing the operation of the unoperated key members during the movement of said U-shaped bar, a motor spring tensioned by the operation of said U-shaped bar, a pulsing mechanism actuated by said gear sector under the tension of said motor spring following the return of the operated key to normal position, the pawl respective to the operated key operating upon its engagement with said pawl bar for permitting the return of that key to normal prior to the movement of said pawl bar by said U-shaped bar.

RUDOLPH F. MALLINA. 

